Detectives question man over Marsha murder after tip-off

Police investigating the murder of Marsha McDonnell and attacks on two teenagers in south-west London were questioning a man last night.

The 22-year-old suspect was arrested yesterday after a tip-off to officers investigating the murder of Ms McDonnell, 19, who was bludgeoned to death as she walked home in Hampton this month.

The man, who lives in Hampton, is also being questioned about attacks on a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old youth in the same area. He was arrested outside New Malden rail station, about five miles from Hampton, by officers from the serious crime group, supported by the SO19 armed unit, at 5.05pm.

Sid Wootton, 60, said: "There were loads of police, all of them armed. We heard them yelling and hollering 'get down'. Then there were forensic officers, they stopped their car, got their suits on and went over to this person who they had lying on the ground. They took stuff out of his pocket, searched him while he was on the floor and then put a white suit on him."

The attacker is believed to have struck again on Tuesday when a youth escaped with a minor injury after being attacked with a blunt weapon.